MediAider expands medical travel services with inbound care for NRBSs

Dhaka : Medical travel facilitator MediAider is expanding its services beyond outbound patient referrals by helping non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) return home for treatment, positioning itself as one of the few companies in the country offering both outbound and inbound medical travel support.

Talking to The Bangladesh Monitor, Shabbir Ahmad Tamim, Co-Founder and CEO of MediAider, said, the company was established in 2019 after observing that many Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment abroad often lacked reliable guidance and became vulnerable to misinformation.

End-to-end medical travel support

MediAider provides comprehensive assistance for patients seeking overseas treatment, covering medical consultations, hospital selection, treatment cost estimates, visa processing, flight bookings, accommodation, airport transfers, and other logistical support.

The company primarily handles patients requiring specialized treatments such as orthopedic and spine surgery, cardiac procedures, oncology, and other complex medical conditions, alongside outpatient consultations.

Inbound services for NRBs

Last year, MediAider introduced a new service targeting Bangladeshi expatriates, particularly those living in the Middle East, where healthcare costs are often significantly higher than in Bangladesh.

The company now assists NRBs wishing to receive treatment in Bangladesh by arranging consultations, hospital appointments, travel logistics, and other support services from arrival through recovery.

Tamim said, MediAider currently receives around seven to eight inbound patients every month through this service.

India remains top destination

For outbound medical travel, MediAider facilitates treatment for around 20 to 25 Bangladeshi patients each month.

India continues to dominate as the preferred destination, accounting for approximately 80 percent of the company's outbound cases. Thailand receives around 10 percent of patients, while the remaining 10 percent travel to destinations including Singapore, Malaysia, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.

The company also plans to add Sri Lanka to its network of medical travel destinations.